Parent Financial Statements Cash Flow (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 29, 2013	Dec. 30, 2012	Jan. 01, 2012
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net income	$ 44,632	$ 9,467	$ 9,875
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
Impairment of long-lived assets	15,879	21,097	14,441
Share-based compensation	19,613	11,473	16,990
Amortization of deferred financing costs	2,487	4,241	6,216
Deferred income tax	(12,984)	30,315	(313)
Dividends from subsidiaries	170,000	0	0
Other, net	(8,908)	3,093	2,854
Changes in assets and liabilities:
Net cash provided by operating activities	329,847	190,415	246,717
Cash flows from investing activities:
Other, net	0	(3,251)	(265)
Net cash used in investing activities	(76,690)	(189,385)	(58,197)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Repayments of long-term debt	(590,293)	(1,044,310)	(38,702)
Repurchases of common stock	(69,320)	0	(157,556)
Dividends	(70,681)	(39,043)	(32,366)
Proceeds from stock option exercises	42,370	7,806	6,359
Other, net	438	52	(2,262)
Net cash used in financing activities	(122,901)	(24,129)	(224,584)
Net (decrease) increase in cash and cash equivalents	126,791	(21,870)	(37,277)
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period	453,361	475,231	512,508
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	580,152	453,361	475,231
Parent Company [Member]
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net income	45,487	7,083	9,875
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
Equity in (income) loss from operations of subsidiaries	(20,850)	(31,217)	(13,078)
Other operating transactions with Wendy's Restaurants, LLC	4,988	28,733	6,031
Depreciation and amortization	1,272	3,078	627
Impairment of long-lived assets	1,830	1,628	0
Share-based compensation	1,552	944	1,021
Tax sharing payments received from subsidiaries	0	37	13,078
Amortization of deferred financing costs	0	21	0
Deferred income tax	80,161	(4,118)	(10,094)
Tax sharing receivable from subsidiaries, net	(119,249)	0	(2,437)
Dividends from subsidiaries	170,000	0	0
Other, net	1,439	1,753	(1,547)
Changes in assets and liabilities:
Other current assets	10,305	(472)	491
Other current liabilities	(2,040)	8,643	(2,332)
Net cash provided by operating activities	174,895	16,113	1,635
Cash flows from investing activities:
Net repayments from subsidiaries	0	0	377
Other, net	0	686	0
Net cash used in investing activities	0	686	377
Cash flows from financing activities:
Repayments of long-term debt	0	(11,303)	(1,368)
Repurchases of common stock	(69,320)	0	(157,556)
Dividends	(70,681)	(39,043)	(32,366)
Proceeds from stock option exercises	42,370	7,806	6,359
Other, net	0	(48)	(2,262)
Net cash used in financing activities	(97,631)	(42,588)	(187,193)
Net (decrease) increase in cash and cash equivalents	77,264	(25,789)	(185,181)
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period	102,652	128,441	313,622
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	$ 179,916	$ 102,652	$ 128,441